Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Greater New Orleans

Change Region

comments

Georgetown's Otto Porter took a different path to become the top-rated small forward draft prospect

Otto Porter.jpg

In this Feb. 27, 2013 file photo, Georgetown's Otto Porter Jr. goes up for the game-winning basket during the second overtime of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. Porter was selected to the AP All-America team Monday, April 1, 2013.
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Unlike many of the top prospects in next week’s NBA draft, Georgetown small forward Otto Porter’s upbringing didn’t include participating in the AAU basketball circuit.

Instead of traveling around the country playing against top-notch competition as a teenager, Porter honed his skills playing against his cousins in pick-up games at his grandmother’s house in Sikeston, Mo.

Although his path may be different than most of the projected lottery picks, Porter, 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, is considered by some scouts to be the most NBA-ready after playing two seasons at Georgetown before declaring for the draft.

"It was more me, not wanting to go that route," Porter told reporters at the NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago last month. "I had cousins and friends that played AAU, I figured that I could stay home and work on my game and the exposure would come later once teams could see that I could play and see that I have talent. My dad helped me work out, just getting better and stronger."

Porter grew up in rural Missouri and was overlooked by some Division I basketball programs but he emerged emerged last season as a sophomore. He became the first consensus All-American at Georgetown since guard Allen Iverson after averaging 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

He was the only player in Division I that averaged at least 16 points, seven rebounds and and shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent on 3-point attempts. Porter's best game this past season came against Big East rival Syracuse in February, when he scored 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had five steals and made five 3-pointers while playing all 40 minutes in leading the Hoyas to a victory.

NBA scouts like Porter because of his well-rounded ability to make mid-range shots, run the floor, rebound and defend.

He is projected as a top-five pick and likely won’t be on the board when the New Orleans Pelicans select at No. 6. Most of the mock drafts have Porter going to the Washington Wizards, who pick No. 3 overall.

Porter was scheduled to have his final two workouts with Cleveland and Orlando, which hold the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively, this week before the draft.

"He’s a guy that's going to make a team better," said Ryan Blake, the NBA’s senior director of scouting. "I think he’s a good athlete, too. He can be like a point forward. He was an under-the-radar guy coming up through high school, but really developed last year.’’

This year’s draft is not considered to be deep with talent like last year when forward Anthony Davis was considered to be a can’t-miss prospect before New Orleans selected him as the No. 1 overall pick.

Porter is rated as the top small forward prospect with UNLV’s Anthony Bennett as the next highest. Bennett played power forward at UNLV, but is expected to be converted to small forward because he is 6-7. Bennett has not worked out for any teams because he is still recovering from surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad also could be selected as a lottery pick.

"They say there is no Kevin Durant or LeBron James in this draft, so there’s a big window open for many guys working out and trying to showcase their talents to teams," Porter said.

"I’m just enjoying the whole process and I can do many things on the court. I bring excitement and I’m very versatile.’’